Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1887-01-13
cultural and horticultural interests Of

cultural and horticultural interests Of
the State wero paramount TO every other
interest, and when it comes TO such
pass that the Legislature Of the State will
tell the farmers that proposed exhibit
OF the state's resources in fruit growing
Is not worthy of State aid, hlet u.s." con-
oluded Mr.. Polk, ''oo. operate on this
subject. Let uB combine and determine
that the GLASS of men to be sent to our
next Legislature shall be Of those who
have the true interests Of our State at
heart, who will esohew politics for
peaches at least once in while" Mr..
Polk evidently struck the sentiment of
the society, as he was applsuded to the
echo.
General Holcomb resigned from the ex-
hibition committee and Samuel Bancroft,
Jr., of Wilmington was substituted.
]. 8. Harris Of Still Pond, Md, fol-
lowed with paper ON peaches. Forty
years ago, said Mr.. Harris, the peach in
terest Of this Peninsula was Of small i'm.
portance. The cultivation Of this fruit
for market was confined TO few indi-
yiduals and these operated only on q
limited scale, Previous TO that, the tim
ber business was q source of much profit.
In those lays little was heard of the
enemies of the peach or the railroad mon
opolies, but our forests having gone and
the cereal crops ceasing TO be RHurce OF
profit, attention was turned to the peach
and IFS culture made speciality, and
1t has grown to such proportions that
we must wisely consider the best manner
Of raising and disposing of the crop. Mr..
Harris then spoke Of the different varie-
ties Of peaches; the soil to which each
was best adapted and impressed upon his
hearers the Importance Of this point. The
early varieties should never be planted on
rich or moist soil. Most OF the middle and
late varieties, grow we'll ON either light Of
stiff land, but all bear the most regular
crops and the best colored fruit on light
loamy or sandy soil near large
bodies Of water. High situations were
recommended to insure certainty Of
crop, and low lands for large crops
though it was wise TO plant in both stu
| ations. Growers were urged to restric
themselves, to we'll defined varieties
Medium sized trees should be selected
for planting and April was recommended
as the time for setting out trees. Guilt
vation, pruning and training of youni
trees was touched upon, as we'll as tn
pruning and cultivation of bearing trees
| The aphis, borers and the curculio wer
mentioned as the most damaging iusect
the peach has to contend with. For th
aphis, refuse tobacco placed around th
trees in early spring has been found YER
effective; for the borer, about thre
shoyelfuls of Stacked lime, placed abou
each tree WAS found to be valuabl
remedy, but for the curculio, the creates
enemy of them all, no effective rsmed
has yet been discovered.
In speaking of the yellowB Mr.. Harri
said that starting near Philadelphia oyt
so years ago IL has been steadily marol
ing down the Peninsula, until to-day IL
over running New Castle and Kent coul
ties Of Delaware, and Cecil and the uppt
half Of Kent counties Maryland; au
while suggesting no remedy, he earnestl
recommended the society to use its \
fiueDoe with the legislatures of Delawa
, and Maryland, to have vigorous mea
ures adopted TO stamp out this disease,
recess was taken at the clcss of h
: Harris remarks until 80 p. IA.
The evening session was mainly d
voted 10 discussion of peach yellow
= and the stamping out" process, or il
! mediate uprooting of every affected tr
: as soon as symptoms were disooyere
was almost unanimously recommends
Mr.. Harris suggestion in regard to I
enactment OF laws compelling growers
: adopt this plan, under penalty, "
:, probably take the form Of resoluti
y petitioning the legislatures of the t'
: : states to that effect before the society
: iourns.
: PayntAr Frame of Georgetown,
= watermelon fame, read On INTEREST,"
! paper ON Vegetables" just before
= = iournment. Regarding his mammt
= ! watermelons, he said the plan was to pi
: of all but one melon from each vine
7 ! not cut the vine, as the melon need
! all the leaf foliage possible.
u SH. Messiok, vice president for suss'
!, read his report and the society then
. journed until this morning at o'clo
! when apple culture came up for disc
. sion.
= Representatives Allaband and Tay
= were present at the meeting yesterday.